Blackman scores 30 in Niagara's 65-61 win at Rider

Feb 21, 2015, 04:32 pm

LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. -- Emile Blackman made six 3-pointers and scored 30 points to lead Niagara to a 65-61 upset of Rider on Saturday.

The Purple Eagles (6-21, 5-13 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference) lost 69-60 to the Broncs (19-10, 13-5) at home last Sunday but scored their first victory at Rider since January 2007. It was only the second victory for Niagara in the teams' last 12 meetings.

Teddy Okereafor scored 14 points for the Broncs, who had a five-game winning streak snapped.

Rider led 49-47 after Zedric Sadler's basket with 10:43 remaining but its next field goal didn't come until 2:54 was left and the Broncs trailing 59-55. Okereafor hit a 3-pointer to close within 59-58 with 28 seconds left, but Blackman made two free throws and Okereafor missed a pair. Niagara's Karonn Davis added two more free throws before Rider's Shawn Valentine hit a 3-pointer to trail 63-61 with 1.8 left. Blackman made two final free throws.